Folding table



June 15,1926.

F. C. LEWIS FOLDING I QBLE Filed May 14,. 1925 INVENTOR 1. iLe a a'a', BY 16 M ATTORNEYS Y WITNESSES k Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT K FRANKLIN CROGKER LEWIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed May 14, 1925. Serial No. 30,299.

bar, which is inclined at an angle to the vertical, with the ends of the end bars being bevelled in order to accommodate the hinge in a predetermined angular position and with the ends-of the end bars being sheared off to maintain the legs perpendicular when the table is extended but inclined to an angle when the supporting structure is folded.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following de tailed description, in view of the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be under stood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall. define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. I In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the frame of the table in extended relation.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the supporting frame in the process of being folded.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1. Figure f is a transverse vertical section taken along the line l4t of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section showing the frame in folded position.

Figure 6 is an end view of an end bar showing a bevelled seat for a hinge.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate respectively front and rear side bars of the supporting structure of the table while 3 and idesignate the end bars. The rear bar 2 is inclined at an angle to the vertical and such inclination is provided for by cutting a slot 5 in each rear leg 6 at its upper end at an angle to the vertical to receive the inclined rear bar 2, the ends of said bar being secured to the legs in any approved manner.

Each of the front legsti at its upper end is provided with a vertical slot 7 adapted to receive an end of the front bar 1. As shown more particularly in Figure 6 each end of an end bar iscut away as shown at 8 to form a bevelled seat which is inclined at an angle to the vertical and to which is secured a leaf 9 of a hinge 10. The other leaf 11 is secured to the inner inclined surface of the rear bar 2 and adjacent an end of said bar. The inclination of the leaves 9 and 11 of the hinge 10 in difierent planes is adapted to maintain the upper edges of either of the end bars 3 and 4; in a horizontal plane as shown in Figure 3.

The end bars 8 and 4 are each connected to the front side bar 1 by means of a pair of straps 12 pivoted at 13 intermediate the ends of an end bar. ()ne strap is connected on the top edge of an end bar while the other strap is pivoted to the lower edge of an end bar. These straps when the supporting structure is extended are adapted to rest for the greater portion of their lengths upon the respective end bars. The other end of the strap is bent inwardly at right angles as shown at 1 1 and pivotally connected at 15 to the upper edge of a front bar 1. While I have shown the straps as having an angular portion 14 a straight strap will be just as effective.

To the rear bar 2 is pivotally connected a table top 16 by means of strap hinges 17 ode scribed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 681,833 filed December 20, 1923. This table top is adapted to normally be supported upon the upper edges of the front, rear and end bars when the sup porting frame is extended and to be maintained substantially in the vertical plane when the frame is folded. When the frame is extended the outer free ends 18 of the end bars 8 and 4 are adapted to abut the vertically disposed front bar 1 with the side por- 190 tions of each free end of said bar abutting an inner face of a front leg 6. The ends of the bars 3 and 4 where said bars are hinged to the rear bar is sheared off at an acute angle to the vertical as shown at 23 so that When the table is folded the disposition 0 of the hinge wherein one leaf is connected to the inclined rear bar 2 the other leaf being connected to the bevelled seat 8 of an end bar 3 or 4 permits proper swinging of said end bars and causes the rear legs 6 to be moved outwardly at the lower ends from the front leg 6 so that there is a greater space between the lower ends of the legs than at the upper and thus aiding in maintaining the table structure in an elevated position when the frame is folded. The legsare maintained substantially in the vertical when the frame is extended.

The front leg adjacent the front bar 1 is provided with pins 20 on its inner face, the pins being disposed parallel to said bar. The free ends of the end bars 3 and f are provided with slots 21 adapted to receive the pins when the frame is extended and the endsof the Side bars are in engagement with the inner faces of the legs 6 for aiding in looking the end bars against accidental movement.

The sheared ends of the end bars compensate for the inclination of the rear bar and maintain the leg perpendicular when the table is extended. The bevelled seats of the end bars to which the hinges are attached compensate for the shear when the end bars are revolved and compel the end bars to revolve in the plane with the top of the structure whether extended or folded. The legs incline outward when folded because the end bars when revolved against the rear bar are compelled to incline like the rear bar, then the straps holding the end bars to the front bar compel the front bar-to'incline and the front bar compels the legs to incline outwardly.

hat I claim is:

1. ;In a foldable table, a frame support comprising front and rear bars, the rear bar being inclined at an angle to the vertical, a pair of legs secured to each of the rear and front bars, an end bar having one end bevelled, a hinge having a leaf connected to the bevelled end of an end bar, the other leaf being secured to the inclined rear bar, and a strap connecting an end bar to the front bar whereby the end bars are swingabletowards the rear bar when the frame is folded and the front bar is supported by the swingable end bars.

2. In a foldable table, a frame support comprising front and rear bars, a pair of legs adapted to be connected to each bar, a vair of legs which are connected to the rear bar being provided with slots inclined to the vertical to receive the ends of the inclined rear bar, end bars having one end sheared off atan angle to the vertical, a hinge having a leaf connected to the sheared off end, the other leaf of the hinge being secured to the inclined rear bar, and a strap having an end connected with an end bar, the other end being connected with a front bar.

In a foldable frame, a frame support comprising front and rear bars, legs connected to the front and rear bars, an end bar hingedly connected with an end of a rear bar and having its leaves normally maintained at an angle to vertical planes which intersect each other, and means for connecting the end bars with the front bar while permitting the end bar to be moved away from the front bar, said inclination of the leaves of the hinges permitting the side bars to be folded towards each other and for causing the adjacent legs to be moved outwardly from each other at their lower free ends.

4t. In a foldable table, a frame support comprising front and rear bars, the rear bar being inclined at an angle to the vertical, a pair of legs secured to each of the rear and front bars, an end bar having one end bevelled, a hinge having a leaf connected to the bevelled end of an end bar, the other leaf being secured to the inclined rear bar, and a strap connecting an end bar to the front bar whereby the end bars are swingable towards the rear bar when the frame is folded and the front bar is supported by the swing-able end bars, the front legs of the frame being provided with pins, the free ends of the end bars being provided with slots adapted to receive the pins for aiding in maintaining the frame in rigid extended position.

5. In a foldable table, a frame support comprising front and rear bars, a pair of legs secured to each rear and front bar, end bars having an end hinged to a pair of the rear legs, straps connecting the end bars intermediate their ends with the frontbar, pins mounted on the legs connected with the front bar, the end bars being provided with grooves adapted to receive the pins for aiding in maintaining the frame in rigid position when the same has been extended.

6. In a foldable table, a frame support comprising front and rear bars, a pair of legs secured to each bar, the rear bar being inclined to the vertical, hinges secured to the inclined bar, and end bars connected with the hin es, straps having pivotal connections with the front bar and with the end bars whereby the end bars are fold- FRANILILT CROCKER LEWIS. 

